Two large-scale car cruises in Irvine this summer resulted in obstructive parking and around 130 offences were committed, councillors were told.

Most of the offences related to vehicle defects, parking issues and other minor offences.

Officers have now spoken to the organisers, who are co-operating fully. The police team have now suggested moving car cruise events.

Superintendent Shaheen Baber told a police and fire and rescue commitee that 3,000 people from all over the UK took part in the first event entitled ‘May Mayhem’.

There were 1,500 to 2,000 cars. It was advertised online as an evening event but by noon on the day of the gathering, it was already very busy. Cars from all over Scotland and England took part.

Local police officers were there and lots of litter was left which was picked up very quickly by council staff and partners, it was said.

Irvine Times: At the August rally at the harbourside

Superintendent Baber added: “Local community complaints centred on people parking on the grass at the newbuild houses which caused a lot of issues.

“Lots of litter was left but it was cleared up very quickly the next morning by council staff and partners, and there was hardly any evidence of the event. 

“Eighty-odd offences were detected by officers who were there; defects to cars or any other issues.

“I was asked to have a command structure for the next event in July.  We had a multi-agency approach with me leading a gold command and Chief Inspector [Fraser] Normansell.

“We identified all three organisers and one of the local sergeants, Donald Fisher, who made contact and built up a good rapport with organisers who were co-operative.

“A meeting was held at the location and we had general discussions with organisers; they understood local concerns and issues about parking on the grass and congestion.

“Organisers did say they are aiming to improve their event, they wanted to contribute to the local economy and will have charity events and there will be a family event. They also put online some safety advice and a one-way system.

“Inspector Alan Dodds ran the event with police and partners and it was a busy event. We have had no complaints, organisers did cooperate with local police, partners and local communities and there were no issues.”

Inspector Stuart Dougan said: “The last car cruise was given more coverage in the media. We engaged with partners a bit better and they got a plan to clean up the area instead of leaving a drastic mess which it has been in the past.

“We have the impact of a lot of vehicles going to a very tight area and there is still work to be done. A lot of vehicles were coming to a tight area, which is very residential now. The offences go to the more serious road traffic offences to endorsable tickets.”

Inspector Baber said around 54 offences had been committed at the second event.

Discussions had been held on the location and if there were any other areas they could be directed to, they would consider them.

Committee chair Donald Reid said: “At 7.15pm on the Sunday, there were still quite a lot of motorbikes going up and down the harbourside which didn’t have any plates and there were still ATVs going up over the dunes, which is meant to be motor vehicle free.

“There were a lot of people there so if that had overturned there would have been a lot of people hurt.

“There was no evidence of a one-way system in Montgomery Street or Harbourside. There were no signs showing it was one-way. It was better and people were not revving outside the house but that was probably because there were senior officers keeping an eye on things.”

Ardeer, he suggested, might be a better location for the events.